Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypersplenism is related to the age of onset of liver disease.
Methods
Hypersplenism was assessed in 84 consecutive cirrhotic patients attending a university hospital liver clinic.
Results
Hypersplenism was present in 78% of patients and severe in 39%. Severe hypersplenism was more common in patients with cystic fibrosis liver disease (88%, P < 0.0001) and autoimmune hepatitis (60%, P = 0.0006) compared to alcoholic cirrhosis (12%). There was a significant correlation between patient age and platelet count r = 0.525, P < 0.0001 in the group as a whole and for the sub-group of patients with autoimmune hepatitis r = 0.54, P = 0.047. There was a negative correlation between age and spleen size r = −0.611, P < 0.0001.
Conclusion
Younger patients had lower platelet counts, larger spleens and a higher incidence of hypersplenism suggesting that hypersplenism is significantly related to the age of onset of chronic liver disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McCormick PA (2007) Hypersplenism. In: Rodes J, Benhamou JP, Blei AT, Reichen J, Rizzetto M (eds) Textbook of hepatology. From basic science to clinical practice, 3rd edn. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 771–778
Mutchnick MG, Lerner E, Conn HO (1980) Effect of portocaval anastomosis on hypersplenism. Dig Dis Sci 25:929–938
Liangpunsakul S, Ulmer BJ, Chalasani N (2003) Predictors and implications of severe hypersplenism in patients with cirrhosis. Am J Med Sci 326:111–116
Bashour FN, Teran JC, Mullen KD (2000) Prevalence of peripheral blood cytopenias (hypersplenism) in patients with nonalcoholic chronic liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol 95:2936–2939
El-Khishen MA, Henderson JM, Millikan WJ, Kutner MH, Warren WD (1985) Splenectomy is contraindicated for thrombocytopenia secondary to portal hypertension. Surgery. Gynecol Obstet 160:233–238
Psacharopolous HT, Howard ER, Portman B, Mowat AP, Williams R (1981) Hepatic complications of cystic fibrosis. Lancet 2(8237):78–80
Da Silva LCCFJ (1992) Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Pathophysiology and treatment. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 21:163–177
Pugh RN, Murray-Lyon IM, Dawson JL, Pietroni MC, Williams R (1973) Transection of the oesophagus for bleeding oesophageal varices. Br J Surg 60:646–649
Qasim A, McCormick PA, Tajuddin T, Zaman MB, Traynor O, Hegarty J et al (2007) Improved survival outcomes for liver transplantation. Ir Med J 100:389–390
Kenny-Walsh E, for the Irish Hepatology Research Group (1999) Clinical outcomes after hepatitis C infection from contaminated anti-D immune globulin. N Engl J Med 340:1228–1233
Shah SHA, Hayes PC, Allan PL, Finlayson ND (1996) Measurement of spleen size and its relation to hypersplenism and portal hemodynamics in portal hypertension due to hepatic cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol 91:2580–2583
Soper NJ, Rikkers LF (1982) Effect of operations for variceal hemorrhage on hypersplenism. Am J Surg 144:700–703
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McCormick, P.A., Walker, S. & Benepal, R. Hypersplenism is related to age of onset of liver disease. Ir J Med Sci 176, 293–296 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-007-0089-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-007-0089-8